Ex-footballer wife's health blow

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The wife of the former Scotland footballer Colin Hendry has suffered a serious infection after an operation to correct botched cosmetic surgery.

Denise Hendry, 42, who lives in Lytham, Lancs, with her husband, nearly lost her life after having liposuction at Broughton Park Hospital in 2002.

Mrs Hendry suffered nine punctures to her bowel and colon, causing blood poisoning and multiple organ failure.

She has developed a meningitis-type infection after corrective surgery.

Signs of improvement

Her husband, who also played for Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers and managed Blackpool, has been at her bedside at Salford Royal Hospital.

Although the surgery here has gone well, the infection she has contracted has been a devastating blow for us Colin Hendry, husband

He said: "Denise has shown some signs of improvement over the last few days. I spend every day at her bedside and it's encouraging to see the progress she is making, although there is still a long way to go."

Her specialist at the hospital, Professor Gordon Carlson, said: "She has had to undergo 16 hours of complex reconstructive surgery on her abdomen but is making a gradual recovery on our Intensive Care Unit," he said.

Swedish cosmetic surgeon Gustav Aniansson carried out the liposuction at the private hospital, in Preston, Lancashire, in April 2002.

Heart stopped

The mother-of-four wanted to try and regain her figure after the birth of her youngest child but she fell ill just two days after surgery and required treatment for septicaemia at the Royal Preston Hospital.

Her heart stopped for four minutes as she suffered a cardiac arrest.

Lawyers later secured a six-figure damages settlement in November 2006, while Dr Aniansson voluntarily applied to be removed from the General Medical Council's register.

Mr Hendry, 43, added: "Further corrective surgery at Preston Royal Infirmary was not successful and we have had to come to Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust for even more treatment.

"Although the surgery here has gone well, the infection she has contracted has been a devastating blow for us."